The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-01-22


st0n0-A Prairie Fire.
The days were beginning to grow
short as our four-in-hand dashed
up to receive us at 7 A. NJ, after a
breakfast by candle-light, for our
return drive. A hard climb found
us at the summit of the mountain
near by. In the distance, seemingly
fifteen or twenty miles ahead, the
view was obscured by smoke; in
deed, a prairie fre-not strange
sight to any of us. On we travelled,
but the expression and earnest look
on Jim's face indicated to us that
it might be something serious.
About noon, as We were emerging
from a dark, wild, narrow canyon,
in cutting our way through the
mountains, we were confronted with
three prairie wolves, which were
just entering the canyon We were
leaving. They were fleeing with
desperate speed, and seeing us they
stopped short, gazing about them
with a petrified stare, uncertain as
to which course to take, but they
quickly dashed by us, within twen-
ty feet, and soon disappeared. "a
danger signal" said Jim, as he took
an extra grip on his reins and
stretched his neck. "a big fire
we've got about u.s." True enough,
for as We passed out into the open
prairie we beheld a sight which
sent thrill of horror through our
veins, when we comprehended the
situation. We had been travelling
westward while the fire had been
travelling in an easterly direction,
and had already passed to the left
of us and apparently closed up our
rear retreat. The horses shifted the
air excitedly, looking about them
in wild, uneasy manner, their ears
moving to and fro, as they nerv-
ously neighed to each other. Away
in the distance, where the prairie
met the sky, a heated, quivering
line arose, surmounted by dark,
wavering cloud. Twas the prairie
on fire! The wind was blowing
almost gale, directly towards us,
and the long, dead grass was as dry
rs finder; the fire was plainly
spreading rapidly, and, with wild
shout to the horses, Jim showed
the stuff of which he was made.
Off to the right we shot at furious
speed, leaving the road and taking
to the painless prairie; band of
antelope, with eyes like fire, came
rushing past us, adding to the ex-
element and fury of our horses. A
glance to the left showed that the
fire was gaining on us, as, with a
horrible, cracking sound, we could
see bright flames, twenty feet high,
shooting upward, and tongues of
fire leaping ten yards at time be-
fore the gale. The fire was fast
overhauling us. The dark, rolling
smoke soon overcast the sky above
our heads, seeming to imprison us.
Jim muttered something, and his
face grew ashen as the hecks of
foam from our wild horses flew
over his breast. 1t seemed as if
our hour had come. On we went,
the fire momentarily drawing near
er, the pillows of smoke each in
slant growing denser and the heat
more suffocating, at times seeming
as though it would blister our faces.
Should we throw out our guns and
traps and tighten the wagon? Not
a word from Jim, but his strong
arm and steady eye were intent on
saving US, as we Numbered on at
terrific speed. Shall we ever forget
that moment, when for an instant
the smoke cleared and we realized
We were being literally encircled by
the raging fire-caused by contrary
and varying winds-only about a
quarter of a mile ahead, there was
an opening of several hundred feet
for our escape! Could we reach it
before the gap closed? Again the
smoke wreaths whirled around us !;
the painting horses, mad with ter
ror, blindly rushed through the
darkness, as We yelled words of en-
couragement to them. Could they
hold out? 1t was a race for life !!
A few moments and we dashed
through the opening, then not 100
feet wide, and were safe!
We refined up in a short time,
after fording a stream, and with
deep-drawn signs of relief, bounded
out of the wagon. Our noble horses,
our preservers, were shivering with
excitement, reeking with perspira-
ton, and almost white with foam.
Indeed, we all set to work to rub
and dry them, while soothing and
quoting them with words of praise,